Hailing from the quaint community of Morne Sion Choiseul in Saint Lucia, a Caribbean island nation, LCpl Marvric Ne-Sean Pamphile’s heritage has played a pivotal role in shaping his remarkable journey.
He now serves as a design draughtsman in the Royal Engineers, stationed in Chilwell, Nottingham. Yet, little did he know that his journey would take him from the Caribbean island to the world stage, representing Saint Lucia, Rugby, Northampton Athletics club, the Army Athletics Association, and the United Kingdom Armed Forces as an international 400m sprinter.
LCpl Pamphile’s path was not without its challenges. Before joining the British Army, he dedicated his time as a full-time Primary School Physical Education Teacher, skilfully balancing his life and passion for sports. However, his dreams of athletic excellence were about to take centre stage.
In 2019, Pamphile enlisted in the British Army Royal Engineers. During his 14-week basic training at the ATC (Army Training Centre) Pirbright, Pamphile’s team discovered his participation in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. This revelation sparked a dialogue about the advantages of being a dual-career athlete within the Army, allowing him to pursue his athletic goals alongside his military duties.
LCpl Pamphile’s journey continued to unfold, as he successfully completed his B3 Combat Engineering course at Gibraltar Barracks in Minley and his Trade course at Brompton Barracks in Chatham Kent. However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant obstacle, with all sports being put on hold for a minimum of two years. Faced
with this challenge, Pamphile contemplated abandoning his athletic pursuits and focusing solely on his professional growth. Fate, however, had other plans. Pamphile unexpectedly participated in his first race representing 1 Royal School of Military Engineering, marking his return to competitive athletics after a four-year hiatus. Despite the lack of proper preparation, his contribution aided the training Regiment to secure their first victory in an Army Major Unit Athletics Championship.
From that moment, Pamphile’s career took a remarkable turn. He received extensive support from his unit corps and the army through the TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme). His hard work and dedication paid off, as he achieved an undefeated record during the 2022 Army Athletic Season, contributing to the success of his Unit, Corps, and Army in securing significant Army Championship titles. Pamphile also proudly represented the UKAF (United Kingdom Armed Forces), maintaining his unbeaten streak in the 2023 Army Athletic season and playing a pivotal role in the Royal Engineers’ triumph in the Inter Corps Men’s Championship and the Inter Services Men’s Athletic Championship.
Pamphile’s achievements did not go unnoticed. He was chosen to represent the UKAF at the England Athletics Senior Athletics Championships, where he reached the final. Moreover, he had the privilege of traveling to Australia to train and compete alongside the Army, receiving substantial support from his corps and the Army Sports Lottery to finance his national and international athletic endeavours.
Awarded an Army Sports Scholarship in 2023, Pamphile is currently training under the tutelage of James Wright at Loughborough University and Rugby and Northampton Athletics Club. He did all he could to qualify for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, which ultimately proved just outside his grasp. The Army Sport Scholarship Scheme targets funding at its brightest and best young Athletes from all disciplines who aspire to join the Army Elite Sport Programme. “Regrettably, I didn’t make the 2024 Paris Olympics but I have set my target on competing in the 2025 Athletics World Championship in Tokyo”.
LCpl Pamphile’s story is a testament to the opportunities the British Army provides for individuals to thrive in both their military and athletic pursuits. Eager to complete a full career in the British Army that has provided him with so much, LCpl Pamphile harbours long term military ambitions to become a Clerk of Works and to Commission into the Corps of the Royal Engineers. LCpl Pamphile’s success is a shining example of how embracing diversity can lead to remarkable achievements and inspire others to follow in his footsteps.